If you like championship caliber football, then check out the District 1-5A schedule for this week on Friday, October 10th…..The first place El Dorado Aztecs (4-0-5-1) will tangle with the arch-rival Montwood Rams this Friday night at the Socorro Athletic Complex at 7 P.M. The defending District 1-5A champion Rams sport a (3-0-3-2) record, so far in the 2008 season. Montwood Head Coach Chuck Veliz and his staff of assistants have had two weeks to get the players ready to meet the surprising El Dorado Aztecs, thanks to an open date in Montwood’s schedule. It is very dangerous to give Chuck Veliz two weeks to devise a game plan for any team he is scheduled to play because he is a defensive genius and a master motivator. El Dorado coach Jim Althoff will match wits with Veliz Friday night and will not be intimidated by him. This should be an outstanding game. The winner of the contest will reside in first place at the end of the evening…..
Franklin is also undefeated in the District 1-5A race with a 3-0 mark against the league. The Cougars will travel to east El Paso to meet the pass happy Hanks Knights Friday night at Excalibur Stadium. Jeff Cleveland’s Hanks Knights face a “must win” situation against Darren Walker’s Franklin Cougars because his team lost to district rivals Montwood and El Dorado earlier in the season….. Hanks faced a “must win” situation last week on the road at Coronado and pulled off a 31-28 overtime victory spoiling the Thunderbirds’ Homecoming celebration. Hanks kicker Andre Lujan successfully split the uprights from 25 yards out to give his team a crucial District 1-5A win. This victory marks the first time in Hanks’ football history that the Knights have ever beaten Coronado or Franklin for that matter on the Westside of town….. Hanks QB Matt Reyes has passed the football for 1,687 yards and 19 TD’S, so far this season, in just six games as the starting QB of the Knights….. Franklin is famous for being a great defensive team and the “Black Swarm” Cougars must put the pressure on Matt Reyes to have any chance of winning this District 1-5A game…..
Coronado also journeys cross-town to meet the struggling Bel Air Highlanders in the renewal of a great rivalry dating back to 1966. Don Brooks’ Coronado Thunderbirds must win at Bel Air Friday night due to the Hanks loss on October 3rd and because Coronado still must play Montwood and arch-rival Franklin on its’ 2008 schedule, two potential defeats. For Bel Air beating Coronado would be a real shot in the arm, since the Highlanders are 0-3 against the District, and 1-4 overall…..
Finally, 0-4 Americas will pay a visit to 0-4 Eastwood in a battle to stay out of the league cellar. Eastwood has allowed a staggering 277 points defensively to six opponents or 46.1 points per game. Meanwhile, the Americas Trailblazers defensive unit has been ripped for 140 points in five games, or 28 points per game. The Eastwood-Americas contest ought to be an explosive, high scoring match-up……
Congratulations to Andress Head Coach Allan Sepkowitz. His Andress Eagles whipped EPHS 31-6 last week giving him his 230th career victory. The EPHS win moves Coach Sepkowitz into sole possession of 12th place in Texas high school football history in career wins. The venerable Sepkowitz was tied with former Waco Tigers coach Paul Tyson, who won 229 games guiding the Tigers in the 1920’s and early 1930’s. Tyson lead Waco to four state championships in his great career. This is a monumental accomplishment for Allan Sepkowitz and the great thing is that Andress will continue to win as long as he coaches the Garnet and Gold. This week Andress plays host to the arch-rival Irvin Rockets in the 45th renewal of the “Helmet Game”.at a site and day to be determined, due to the delay in installing the Eagles new Astro-Turf field. At press time, a decision on the date and location of the game had yet to be made by EPISD Athletic Director Kenneth Owen. Irvin leads the all-time series 23-21, but Andress has won the last 10 meetings dating back to 1997…..
Ruben Batista’s Austin Panthers are the only undefeated team in the city of El Paso sporting a 5-0 record. The Golden Panthers have won 15 out of its’ last 16 games dating back to last year, mainly thanks to All-District QB Ernest Raya..The 5-9 inch Raya is what you call a “real winner” in sports. He refuses to lose, despite some grim game situations. The Panther star finds ways to win whether he is playing QB, or filling in as a DB. Austin plays host to Bowie this Friday night…..
Six teams are tied for second place in the District 2-4A race trailing the (2-0-4-1) Parkland Matadors after a couple of weeks of league action. The league leading Matadors have a tough game this Friday night playing host to 1-1 Del Valle….. Last week I posted a 13-4 predictions record suffering loses at Coronado, Riverside, Ysleta, and at defending New Mexico state champion Las Cruces Mayfield. Michael Bradley’s Mayfield Trojans lost to the Albuquerque El Dorado Eagles 26-20 in one overtime in a game played at the “Field of Dreams” in Las Cruces….
.For the year, I now own a 38-9 record. This week, I believe Montwood will edge El Dorado in what should be a dynamite District 1-5A game. Still with the District, I think Franklin will cool off Hanks’ passing attack, while Coronado whips Bel Air, and Americas outscores Eastwood…..
In District 1-4A action, Austin should defeat the Bowie Bears, while Andress makes it 11 straight wins over the Irvin Rockets. The Burges Mustangs should clobber EPHS, and Chapin will beat the Jefferson Silver Foxes….. In District 2-4A, I’ll take Parkland over Del Valle, Riverside should get back on the winning track against Mt.View, while Canutillo should have an easy time with San Elizario and Ysleta will lower Horizon’s sights.
District 4-3A finds Clint invading Fabens and Tornillo going to Anthony. I’ll take Clint and Anthony to win.
The surprise team in District 2-4A: The Parkland Matadors. Parkland is 4-1 thus far in 2008 suffering its only loss to explosive Hanks 22-21 in the first game of the year. Parkland has some of the best skill athletes in the city.